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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Boston, Massachusetts » Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #405777
Research Project: Energy Met.: Novel Approaches to Facilitating Successful Energy Regulation in Aging--Obesity & Met.: Role of Adipocyte Metabolism in the Development of Obesity and Associated Metabolic Complications

Location: Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging

Title: Dairy foods, weight change, and risk of obesity during the menopausal transition

Author
item YUAN, MENGJIE - Boston University
item HU, FRANKB - Harvard School Of Public Health
item LI, YANPING - Harvard School Of Public Health
item CABRAL, HOWARD - Boston University
item DAS, SAI KRUPA - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item DEENEY, JUDE - Boston University
item MOORE, LYNN - Boston University

Submitted to: Journal of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/22/2023
Publication Date: 1/4/2023
Citation: Yuan, M., Hu, F., Li, Y., Cabral, H., Das, S., Deeney, J.T., Moore, L.L. 2023. Dairy foods, weight change, and risk of obesity during the menopausal transition. Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.01.001.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.01.001

Interpretive Summary: Weight gain during the menopausal transition is common. Dairy consumption may impact weight change during this critical period, and different dairy foods may have different effects. This study aimed to investigate the associations of different types of dairy foods with weight gain and risk of obesity in perimenopausal women from the Nurses' Health Study II cohort. Self-reported weight change during the 12 years surrounding menopause and dairy food intakes over the same 12-year period were used in the analysis. Yogurt intake was associated with less weight gain and lower obesity risk in women during the menopausal transition.

Technical Abstract: Background Weight gain during the menopausal transition is common. Dairy consumption may impact weight change during this critical period, and different dairy foods may have different effects. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the associations of different types of dairy foods with weight gain and risk of obesity in perimenopausal women from the Nurses' Health Study II cohort. Methods The examination at menopause was selected as the exam closest to the reported age at menopause. Weight change during 12 y surrounding menopause was derived from self-reported weight data for 3 exams before and 3 after menopause. The mean age of the first weight measure was 45.8 y and the average BMI was 25.0 kg/m2. Dairy food intakes were estimated as mean intakes over the same 12 y. Generalized linear models were used to assess the association between dairy foods and annualized weight change. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the adjusted relative risks for becoming obese over 12 y surrounding menopause. Results In longitudinal analyses, those with the highest yogurt intakes had the lowest weight gain at every exam. This was not the case for other forms of dairy. After adjusting for potential covariates, those consuming =2.0 servings/wk of yogurt (compared with <1.0 serving/month) had a 31% (RR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.74) lower risk of obesity. The highest total dairy intake (=2.0 servings/d compared with <1.0) was associated with only a 12% (RR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.82, 0.95) reduction in obesity risk. Higher activity levels and alternative healthy eating index scores were independently associated with statistically significant reductions in risk of obesity, but higher intakes of yogurt strengthened these beneficial associations. Conclusion Yogurt intake was associated with less weight gain and lower obesity risk in women during the menopausal transition.